Harold Mayer

Class of 1964

Awarded in 2004

Contrary to the prevailing wisdom governing cold cuts and hotdogs, we should acknowledge that there is no bologna when it comes to Hal Mayer and his dedication and commitment to Beloit College. A member of the class of 1964 and of Phi Kappa Psi, Hal knows how to come up through the ranks. He started as class president and soon moved to critical posts related to various campaigns and programs addressing specific needs of the College and, in the process, representing the third generation of his family on the Beloit College Board of Trustees. Most recently he has chaired the Property Committee, which is responsible for producing the campus master plan now guiding many changes in our buildings and landscape. In addition, he represents a family commitment to the academic and physical needs of Beloit College that has extended over six decades.

With a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University, he joined the family business and when he retired, was the last member of the family to be active in Oscar Mayer Foods. He has been a major force in his community, serving as chair of the board of the Madison Community Foundation helping that city to rank among the most desirable living locations in the country, and as treasurer of the Meriter Foundation, dedicated to providing health care and education in the region. When Hal Mayer entered Beloit, one of the first things he noted in his essay was that colleges and universities had to meet the needs of tomorrow and had to adequately prepare for the future. He has dedicated his life to those goals at Beloit College and for that, the Beloit College Alumni Association is proud to confer upon Hal Mayer on this, the 40th anniversary of his graduation, its highest award, the Distinguished Service Citation.